Rawalpindi serial knife attacker given life in prison after stabbing 17 women, killing 1

A serial knife attacker who claims he stabbed at least 17 women ─ killing one ─ in Rawalpindi in 2016 was handed a life sentence on Friday.

Muhammad Ali, 24, had targeted working women in the garrison city over a period of a few months.

His attacks took place at night and were timed to coincide with load-shedding hours, when the streets would be dark. Police had said he targeted women 'for fun' in order to spread panic, and had been inspired by slasher films.

A police sketch of Muhammad Ali, the Rawalpindi serial knife attacker, issued in 2016. ─ Photo courtesy Haseeb Bhatti

One of his victims, Anum Naz, a 26-year-old nurse at the Fauji Foundation Hospital, had died after he stabbed her while she was going to her hostel. Her colleague was also severely injured in the attack.

Ali was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department after he was identified at a tandoor in Morgah during a search operation on August 12, 2016.

Rawalpindi Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Qamar Sultan sentenced Muhammad Ali to life in jail on the murder charge and gave him 10 years in prison for attempted murder.

The accused was present in court as the judge read out his sentence.

Earlier, in his confessional statement, Ali had admitted that he "felt satisfaction" after stabbing women because he "hated" them.